Cafe Del Rey

Last Saturday my husband and I went to Caf? Del Rey (CDL) for the first time. We are both foodies, and make a habit of trying different restaurants.

Since I am not comfortable with valets driving my car, we parked about 2 blocks West at the public lot for $2. We arrived at CDL shortly after 6pm. As we came to the front, we saw the billboard outside listing the 'happy hour specials'. Stepping inside we were greeted by a foul sewage smell near the hostess podium (the bathrooms were off to the left).

We were there for dinner, but thought we would take in an appetizer and drink at the bar before being seated to take advantage of the specials.

We sat down in the bar booth (comfy), and the waitress brought us our menus "we are out of corona, and ugly duckling chardonnay" she said. Seems silly that a bar would run out of Corona? I ordered a happy hour mixed drink (can't remember name) and my husband ordered another cocktail, and the calamari. She returned 5 mins later, and told us they were out of the alcohol that supplied my drink. I ordered the jolly rancher (not my first choice, but feeling adventurous!)

The calamari arrived, it contained aprox 12 greasy, quarter size 'O's on a pretty plate, with a mayo saucey sidecar. We were BOTH hungry from our workouts that morning, so we proceeded to order more from the happy hour menu: 6 oysters and the shrimp cocktail. The oysters were the size of a silver dollar, the meat inside smaller than a dime (how cute?). The shrimp cocktail contained 5 (2-biter) shrimp, and run-of-the mill cocktail sauce. Still we were hungry, and at this point decided to eat our dinner in the bar, so we ordered: Truffle pizza (10 inch diameter) $26, 2 chopped salads (each portion came out to roughly cup of chopped veggies), 2 lentil soups (each portion was about 1/2 cup). Normally I am not a stickler on portions but these were rediculously small so it was hard not to take note.

So after 3 smaaaall cocktails each, 6 tiny plates of food, and $141 (incl tip), we left, knowing there is no way we would be back.

I've had better calamari and pizza at the local Italian joint (allejos), minus the fancy plate. The chopped veggie salad at C&O down the street tastes better AND you get about 500% more, for the same price. I can buy the same size, same quality shrimp at TJs for the same price but 400% more, and why even bother with oysters that size?? The lentil soup was good, but nothing exceptional, they just pureed the lentils.

The waitress was ok, but gave us both the feeling that she was doing us a favor by serving us.

The view of the marina from the DINNER table windows (which you are not allowed to sit at if you are enjoying happy hour) is beautiful. There was a guitar player in the bar that was very talented, and we made sure to tip him on the way out.

Hard to imagine how this place stays in business...Possibly the unknowing tourists from the Ritz next door.

For locals, there are too many other restaurants in this area that are substantially all-around better for under $100 (for two).

The service was ridiculously slow, one waiter was serving about 20 tables on a saturday night! Very negligent service, we were never asked "is everything okay for you?" or "how's the meal" NEVER was i asked for that. The appetizers were good so i was expecting a lot from the entrees, which was $33 for a terrible soy sause seafood spaghetti and $32 for just the over cooked, very salty mahi mahi, with almost no side dishes.I don't mind paying a lot for food but the quality should match the price. Clearly, the spaghetti i could have made it myself at home and taste 10 times better. If you still want to go, either go to lunch (I heard is better) or go at night and only order a bunch of appetizers (you will be happier, trust me).

This is some great asian eatery. Very classy elegant environment. Its a wonderful asian experience. If you want another great asian experience i would reccomend gyneari also.

You have to go here for happy hour if you are in the mood to have a nice wine/cocktail with equally matched food. I know some people crave all that greasy, fried food, but I was able to enjoy a nice meal without feeling weighted down like I had just gone to a fast food restaurant. I highly recommend the prosciutto wrapped figs, their sirloin slider, and the steamed mussels. (I was with a group of people, so don't think I ordered all this just for myself!) Their pilsner was pretty tasty with the whole combo. And, our server was excellent! I couldn't ask for more!

I just had dinner with my husband there this evening. We had good seafood albeit overpriced. However, they serve Foie Gras, basically an ultra fatty patte. It's probably the most inhumane farming practice conducted, really it's animal torture. It requires the force feeding of geese with a medal feeding tube that causes regurgitation, painful lacerations, organ failure, lung failure, and sometimes the explosion of internal organs. These birds are kept heavily confined, force feed, and die long painful deaths. Many have refused to serve it, including Wolfgang Puck, and cities like Chicago have banned it. I would urge everyone not to go to Cafe Del Rey until the take it off the menu for good. I am not against meat or fish, but serving foie gras is really horrific and I hope you'll reconsider spending your money there.